NATO chief confirms North Korea deployed troops to help Russia

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that North Korean troops have been sent to help Russia in its war against Ukraine, which he described as a sign of growing desperation on the part of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rutte emphasized that this military cooperation poses a threat to security in both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions. The addition of North Korean troops represents a significant escalation in the conflict, according to Rutte. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also expressed concern about the troop movement, while the Kremlin and North Korean representatives dismissed reports as fake news. Rutte spoke in Brussels after a South Korean delegation briefed NATO ambassadors on the situation. NATO is actively monitoring the situation and consulting with partners.